CHAPTER T. 



MEDICINES OBTAINED FROM THE ANIMAL 

 KINGDOM. 



1. Ammonia. 



Source. — Ammonia is obtained from plants and animals. 

 There are several forms, but that mostly used in practice is 

 strong liquor ammonia, which is used mostly for making 

 liniments. 



Action and Use. — See receipt for white liniment, Chap- 

 ter V., Section 1. 



2. Cantharides or Spanish Fly. 



Source. — Cantharides is obtained from flies which re- 

 ceive the name Spanish Fly on account of so many of them 

 coming from Spain. The flies are of a green color, an inch 

 in length, and are captured in nets, then killed by pouring 

 boiling water or vinegar on them. After this they are dried 

 in the sun or by artificial heat, are ground and made ready 

 for use in practice. 



Action and Use. — Its chief action is as a sweat blister. 

 It is one of the principal ingredients in sweat blisters which 

 are used for sweating thickenings or lumps on any part of 

 the body, that are not on the bone, such as curbs, tumors, 

 thickenings left after a wound has been healed, etc. As to 

 how to use Powdered Cantharides see the receipt for sweat 

 blister, Chap. V. Cantharides can also be had in the form of 

 a tincture, but this is not extensively used. The proportion 

 to use Powdered Cantharides for a sweat blister is, 1 to 2 

 drams of the Cantharides to an ounce of vaseline or lard, 

 according to how heavy the skin of the horse is. For cows 

 use it a little stronger. 



3. Chloroform. 



Source. — Chloroform was discovered in 1832. It is a 

 colorless, pungent fluid with sweet taste and characteristic 

 odor. It is slowly decomposed by sunlight, and therefore 

 should be kept in a dark place. 



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